Practice Test A - Listening Transcripts - Close
Practice Test B - Listening Transcripts - Close

Practice Test A - Listening Transcripts

Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You are about to hear a conversation between a man and a woman at a massage clinic. The woman works at the clinic and the man is asking for information.


Section 1:

MAN: Hi there. I was walking by and noticed your sign outside. It says that you do massage therapy here and you can bill my health insurance for part of it. Is that correct?

WOMAN: It certainly is. We do massage and acupuncture here. Would you like to book an appointment?

MAN: Yes, but first I want to make sure it’s covered through my health insurance plan at work. I’ll come back once I find out.

WOMAN: No problem. But just to let you know, in order to be covered for special therapies like massage or acupuncture, most health insurance companies require a referral note from a family physician.

MAN: Oh really? Ok, well I actually have an appointment with my family doctor tomorrow.

WOMAN: That’s perfect! See you later then.


Now answer questions 1-2.

1- What is the man inquiring about?
2- What is the next step for the man?

Section 2:

MAN: Hi, I’m back, and I have a referral form from my doctor. I’ve had this terrible pain in my shoulder for weeks, probably from playing basketball or baseball.

WOMAN: Well, we have registered massage therapists that specialize in sports injuries. Would you prefer a full body massage or just to treat that one specific area?

MAN: I think I’d prefer to focus on my upper back. That’s helped before. My arms, legs, and feet get a little achy after a game, but nothing too bothersome.

WOMAN: OK. We can book your massage for 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, or 75 minutes.

MAN: Hmm, what do you suggest? I’d love a 75-minute massage, but maybe that’s too much time to spend on one area. Thirty minutes seems too short, though.

WOMAN: Well, since you’re only treating one area, I’d probably recommend a 45-minute massage.

MAN: Oh, I almost forgot. My girlfriend wants to come too. Do you have two appointments at the same time? She wants a 60-minute relaxation massage.

WOMAN: OK then . . . you’re in luck, it looks like we’ve had a cancellation and I can fit you both in Thursday, at five o’clock.


Now answer questions 3-5.

3- What area of his body is bothering the man?
4- How long will the man’s appointment be?
5- What is likely true about the man?

Section 3:

WOMAN: So, how was your massage? Does your shoulder feel better?

MAN: Yes, it really does! My therapist used just the right amount of pressure. Would it be possible to book monthly appointments with her?

WOMAN: Of course! I’m glad you’re pleased. How about your girlfriend? Did she have a positive experience?

MAN: I’m not sure . . . she’s not out yet.

WOMAN: OK then, so is there a day and time that would work best for you?

MAN: Monday evenings would be good, after 5:30 when I get off from work. It’d be a great way to start the week. Maybe the last Monday of each month.


Now answer questions 6-8.

6- How does the man feel about his massage?
7- What does the man want to do?
8- Why did the man want the time he chose?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between two neighbours.

MAN: Tanya! You’re back from camp! I thought you were gone until tomorrow? Did you get bored?

WOMAN: No, camp was great. But the roads back were clear, pretty much the whole way, so we made great time.

MAN: Well, it’s good to see you. We missed you guys at card games night last Saturday.

WOMAN: Ha! You mean you missed having someone to beat! I’m still not convinced you don’t cheat somehow . . . no one can win every time without a few tricks up their sleeve. Anyways, so what’s new?

MAN: Not much—same old, same old. Oh! But on Tuesday, when I was volunteering at the community center, I saw something posted that might interest you.

WOMAN: Really? Were they advertising dog training classes by any chance? I don’t know if it was just payback for taking him on his first long car ride, but Teddy was causing some serious trouble on our trip.

MAN: Well, they might have those too, although Teddy always seems to be on perfect behaviour when I’m around. But no, the poster I saw was about a new circus school that just opened a few blocks away . . . in that grey building next to the grocery store. I was thinking . . . you’re always saying how much you wanted to be a circus performer growing up—now’s your chance!

WOMAN: Are you serious? A circus school? I’d love that! I imagine it’s just for kids, though. There probably aren’t many adults out there still dreaming of being circus stars.

MAN: Actually, I checked it out, and the majority of classes are for adults. Apparently, you aren’t that strange after all! Samantha even found a class that she thought looked fun . . . some sort of combination of yoga and acrobatics.

WOMAN: Ahh, acroyoga. I could see her liking that! Well, I’ll definitely have to check it out. I hope they have classes in trapeze—that’s what I’ve always wanted to try the most.

MAN: They have one on Saturday nights and bright and early Sunday mornings.

WOMAN: Yuck! I hate getting up early, especially on a Sunday! But I can’t leave you without someone to beat at cards on Saturday night . . . so I guess I’ll be setting my alarm clock!


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- What is this conversation mainly about?
2- Why did the woman get back to town early?
3- What is probably true about the woman in the conversation?
4- Which statement would the man likely agree with?
5- What was the woman’s decision at the end of the conversation?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You are about to hear a conversation between two friends.

MAN: Hi Alice, how are you? Still watching a different movie every night?

WOMAN: Yes, Daniel, I am! I'm so glad you recommended that I subscribe to that international movie channel! It doesn't add that much to my television bill every month, and I'm really enjoying it! I'll never have to go out to a theatre to see a movie again!

MAN: Have you considered writing reviews? Maybe you could get them posted online, on a movie blog.

WOMAN: Oh, I'm not sure . . . I've never written a movie review before.

MAN: It's not that difficult. You had to write book reviews in school, didn't you? First, you should identify the genre: for example, is the movie a comedy or a romance or an action movie? Then you can talk about the plot: what happens.

WOMAN: But I don't want to spoil the movie for other people!

MAN: Exactly. So either don't tell them how it ends or tell them in advance that you're going to. It's called a “spoiler alert.” You can also talk about the characters and the dialogue: are the people interesting; is their conversation realistic?

WOMAN: In book reviews, we also talked about theme and setting. I could do that for the movie as well.

MAN: Yes. And then, since a movie is NOT a book, you can talk about the acting, the costumes, the soundtrack, the special effects—

WOMAN: Soundtrack? Special effects?

MAN: The soundtrack is the music. Remember that Celine Dion song from that movie we watched together at my place—Titanic? And special effects—remember that Star Trek movie I gave you?

WOMAN: I LOVE that song! And the Star Trek movie was full of spaceships and alien creatures . . . Oh, I see what you mean. Any other advice?

MAN: Well, again, I encourage you to submit your reviews to a movie blog or something. I think that there's a great need for reviews about movies that are NOT your typical Hollywood productions that everybody sees and everybody knows about.

WOMAN: Okay, thanks! I can't wait to show you my first attempt!


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- What is the conversation mainly about?
2- Why is the woman watching a lot of movies?
3- What does the man say about revealing the ending of a movie in a review?
4- What is true of the woman?
5- What kind of movies does the woman tend to watch?
6- How does the woman feel about the man’s overall suggestion?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a local development.

A new daycare is set to open at Mayfair Seniors’ Residence this month. The concept, although not new in Canada, is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. In fact, the city of Toronto has been running combined facilities for over 25 years with tremendous success. The combined care centres are intended to foster intergenerational interaction among the children and seniors. Psychologist Lynda Rogers says there are benefits for both parties.

On the one hand, seniors are encouraged to socialize and get moving by participating in activities with the children, which are supervised and organized by licenced professionals. Other potential health benefits for seniors include lower levels of depression and slower cognitive decline. For the children, Rogers says it’s an opportunity to develop empathy and understanding towards others. It may even help reduce age discrimination.

Some community members have expressed health concerns; however, manager of Toronto’s early childhood education facilities, Mansour Jalali argues that their centres have not seen any significant increase in illnesses because careful sanitation measures are taken. Participants must use hand sanitizer before and after activities, and the centre has disinfectant protocols in place for the daycare and residential centres.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people, two women and one man, in a company’s mail room. They are talking about a problem in the company.

Andrea: Colette, we’re not getting our mail fast enough. I got something today that was sent to me two days ago. From someone up on the third floor!

Bernard: That’s ridiculous! I was just going to complain about external mail taking way too long to get onto our desks.

Colette: I know, I know! Deborah not only has to deliver the mail, she also has to sort it! There’s so much of it, it often takes her all morning just to sort through it!

Bernard: I was going to ask if maybe we could come down and get stuff ourselves if it’s particularly urgent. But I guess that wouldn’t make a difference? . . .

Colette: I’m afraid not. Unless it’s sorted already, you would have to look through several bins just to find it. I don’t think I could let you do that. I’ve been trying to hire another person, but Human Resources says there’s just not enough money.

Bernard: That’s unfortunate. I guess one of those high-tech android mailbots is out of the question then.

Andrea: Those what?

Bernard: At my friend’s office, they have one of these automated carts. It’s like a little robot that goes from department to department all day long. When it shows up at your department, you take your incoming mail and put on your outgoing mail. It sounds so efficient.

Colette: Well, that would be less expensive than hiring another person. But I heard they can stall and if that happens somewhere in a hallway, it might take a while for someone to figure out what’s happened and get it going again.

Andrea: What if we had a partitioned box at the elevator on each floor for internal mail. That way, we could pre-sort our outgoing mail by putting it in the right partition. Then all Deborah would have to do every hour or so is deliver it to us from those boxes.

Colette: Well, that would help the movement of the internal mail, but the movement of the external mail would be much slower. And besides, I would hate to add that to Deborah’s duties.

Bernard: Well, if you’re that anxious about external mail, why don’t we get up out of our chairs and go and do it ourselves? I mean, we’re not that old, guys! And anyways, they’re developing new software every single day. Maybe soon we won’t even need physical mail. I mean, in the future, just send a document and maybe everyone will just share it online!

Colette: Well, I think there will always be a need for some physical mail. Supplies, packages . . .

Andrea: So we’re back where we started . . .


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about personality.

You've probably heard the theory: First-born children are reliable, middle children are sociable, last-borns crave the spotlight, and "onlies" are lonely. These notions—some would say stereotypes— arise from decades of research and form the backbone of hundreds of self-help and parenting books. The only problem? The notion that birth order affects personality is increasingly regarded by scientists as pure nonsense.

One such expert is Dr. William Trager of McGill University. He points to two recent international studies that turned up zero correlation between birth order and personality trait development. Trager says past studies that posited a link between birth order and personality were fatally flawed. One blunder, says Trager, was that researchers confounded their subjects' birth order with their chronological age at the time of the study. For example, suppose an eldest child, 16-year-old Frank, was subjectively described by family members as reliable compared to his youngest sibling, 10-year-old Timmy. Researchers concluded that Frank's reliability arose from the fact that he was first born. However, had the researchers come back 6 years later and repeated the questionnaire, Trager says they probably would have found that Timmy, by then 16 years old himself, would be rated as equally reliable, despite being the youngest. For Trager, continued belief in these theories is an indication of people’s desires trumping their ability to reason.

Despite these findings, Kirsten Grenville, CEO of Global Publishing, says books on birth order theory have propelled a raft of popular psychologists and parenting experts to the top of the bestseller charts. For Grenville, the issue isn’t whether or not birth order theory is scientifically valid. The issue, rather, is whether or not it sells product—and sell it does! Consumers' seemingly insatiable appetite for these books, says Grenville, stems from the fact that almost everyone has an instinctive sense that birth order theories are true, whether or not they really are. People read these descriptions of sibling relationship dynamics, and they think, "Yeah, that is true for me." Maybe the descriptions are like horoscopes: general enough that almost everyone can find something to agree with. Also, even if birth order doesn't scientifically correlate with personality trait development, there are certainly enough personal anecdotes, feelings, and hunches to suggest otherwise.

So can we finally put to rest this notion that birth order matters from a scientific perspective? Dr. Trager’s response would be a qualified no. While personality may not be affected, birth order does appear to impact intelligence. Dr. Trager says studies have proven that compared to their siblings, first-borns are smarter on average by a full IQ point.

Practice Test B - Listening Transcripts

Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a customer and a cashier. They are at a convenience store.


Section 1:

MAN: Will that be all today?

WOMAN: Yes, that's it, thanks. Actually, do you sell transit tickets?

MAN: Sure. Do you need them for local transit or the Rapid System?

WOMAN: I’m not sure . . . I live here, but I always drive. My car is in the shop today, though.

MAN: Well, Rapid System tickets are only good on commuter trains and buses. Those are the ones that travel to more distant communities, like Terryville just outside of town.

WOMAN: Well, I’m taking the bus to visit a friend who lives downtown. So I suppose that's local.

MAN: That’s right. How many tickets would you like? We sell them in strips of 10 or 20.

WOMAN: I can't buy single tickets? I only need two!

MAN: Sorry. You can buy single tickets at the station but only multiples here. That'll be $26.00 for 10, plus your other items.

WOMAN: Well, okay then . . . if that’s the only way you sell them . . .


Now answer questions 1-3.

1- What type of transit does the woman plan to take?
2- What is true about the woman?
3- What will the woman probably do next?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Hi. I was just here a few minutes ago. I took a look at those transit tickets when I left the store, and they have an "S" on them. Doesn't that mean they are for seniors?

MAN: Actually, the transit company issues the same tickets for both seniors and students to use. The "S" stands for both.

WOMAN: Oh. The thing is, I don't actually fit into either of those categories.

MAN: I'm so sorry! You have a backpack on, and you look like a lot of the university students who shop here.

WOMAN: A lot of people tell me that! I just have this because I'm bringing a few novels over to lend to my friend. We can never agree on what music is best, but we both like the same authors.

MAN: I see. Well, it’s easy enough to exchange the tickets. Unfortunately, I’ll have to charge you an extra $4.00. I’m very sorry!

WOMAN: I understand. And do you know where I can catch the #53 bus?

MAN: Sure. When you leave the store, make a right. The stop is right there on Division St. You can't miss it.


Now answer questions 4-6.

4- What does the man believe about the woman?
5- What does the woman say she is bringing for her friend?
6- What does the man suggest he will do?

Section 3:

MAN: Hello! Hey, you look familiar! Would you like a plastic bag for the loaf of bread?

WOMAN: No, I've got a reusable cloth one with me. You remember me? I was here last week.

MAN: Yes, the customer with the school bag who I thought was a student! Did you find the bus stop?

WOMAN: Yes, thank you! Your directions were very helpful, and the local tickets worked out fine. Though, with the traffic, it sure took a long time to get there from here!

MAN: I know what you mean. I take the bus downtown sometimes, too, and it always feels like it’s rush hour!


Now answer questions 7-8.

7- Why does the woman return to the store?
8- What did the woman bring with her into the store?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between two parents about a special holiday.

MAN: Hi, Janice. Are you waiting for your daughter? For some reason the teacher always keeps the class late on Thursdays, doesn't she?

WOMAN: Yeah, I don't know why. Your daughter Maria's in the same class, right? Maybe the class is planning a surprise closing event for the parents!

MAN: Could be! Hey, talking about events, are you taking your kids to the Canada Day celebrations next week?

WOMAN: We aren't planning on it. July 1 is usually too hot, so we prefer to spend the day at the beach. We watch the fireworks in the evening, though.

MAN: You can go to the beach any day! The Canada Day events are special, and just once a year. Our kids love everything about it, especially the parade, so we go every year.

WOMAN: Really? Every year? Doesn't it get boring?

MAN: It's different every year. There are beautiful floats; you know, those decorated platforms that make up much of the parade. Last year there was a cool one with kids from the elementary school dressed up as movie characters.

WOMAN: What do they do to make the event especially Canadian?

MAN: Well, there are lots of red and white costumes to represent the colours of the flag. There's usually a Canadian military band, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on their horses. It's awesome!

WOMAN: Isn't it hot and crowded, though? And parking downtown must be a nightmare!

MAN: Yeah, but everyone's having fun, especially the kids. There's some free parking if you go early. Oh, and another great part is the food stalls at the football field where you can get delicious food at great prices. Plus, there are lots of kids' activities like bouncy castles and ring toss, not to mention clowns and jugglers everywhere.

WOMAN: Your enthusiasm is contagious! I'll talk about it with my husband and the kids, and check out the event schedule on the city's website.


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- Why does the man talk about Canada Day celebrations?
2- What is the woman's opinion of Canada Day celebrations?
3- What part of the Canada Day celebrations does the man most enjoy?
4- Why does the man mention so many kids' activities to the woman?
5- How does the woman usually spend Canada Day?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation where a man gets information about his son.

MAN: Excuse me, Priya? I’d like to speak with you about Devo’s progress. I know you’ve been tutoring him for a few weeks now, but he’s still doing poorly in math at school. He failed another test this week.

WOMAN: Yes, I’m afraid he’s missed more than we thought. It may take until the end of the year for him to catch up.

MAN: Oh. That’s discouraging news. Do you have any ideas about how we can move things along more quickly?

WOMAN: Sure. How about increasing his number of sessions? I could schedule him for twice a week, for example. Or even three times.

MAN: Well, that will be much more expensive, won't it?

WOMAN: We usually give a discount to families that register for multiple sessions. I'll talk to my manager.

MAN: That would be great, thanks. I was also concerned about Devo not doing all of the homework you assign. I’m sure you must have noticed.

WOMAN: Yes, that was the next point I was going to mention. I have a new technique I'd like to try with him. I've read that it is useful for developing stronger work habits.

MAN: Sure, anything! How will it work?

WOMAN: Well, first, I’ll do part of his homework with him during our session. Then I’d like you to do the next part of his homework with him at home. Finally, he can do the last part by himself. Eventually, we can decrease the amount you and I do with him until he is doing all of it on his own.

MAN: Thanks, Priya. That sounds like a good place to start. It’s just that, I hate to say this, but he thinks the exercise sheets you have him working on are a little . . . boring.

WOMAN: Well, we can use games or songs to help learn science or language, but math is something that just takes self-discipline. One thing that sometimes helps kids is a reward chart. You know, where he gets a sticker to put on the chart each time he does his homework?

MAN: I like that idea. Thanks for your help, Priya.


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- What is the man mainly concerned about?
2- How often does Devo receive tutoring right now?
3- Why does the woman say she will talk to her manager?
4- What is the purpose of the new homework strategy?
5- Which of the following is part of the new homework strategy?
6- What will the woman most likely do next?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a houseboat.

A new houseboat in Clearwater Harbour has been attracting the attention of tourists and locals. The architect and creator of the vessel, Antonia Moretti, appropriately refers to it as the “floating rectangle,” and people who have seen it describe it as a shipping container on skis. It has taken Ms. Moretti two years to plan and build the houseboat, which is now moored in one of the most coveted areas of the city, surrounded by luxury apartments.

Building her houseboat allowed the 24-year-old graduate to apply her skills in marine architecture, a field she had been studying in both London, England and Shanghai, China. Although her degree can lead to jobs around the world that require this specialized skillset, she says her future goals are still vague. Ms. Moretti can often be seen fishing from the deck of her houseboat or chatting with enchanted passersby.

Not everyone is enamoured by the harbour’s new addition, though. Mike MacDonald, a resident of a nearby apartment building, recently informed Ms. Moretti that she was ruining his view. She simply replied that it was a good view to share.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a conversation between three friends, one woman and two men. They are in a coffee shop discussing different educational options.

Luke: So, Grace, what do you intend to study?

Grace: Marketing. I think that I need a formal education to supplement my hands-on experience. My work doesn’t know yet, but I think they’ll be supportive. I have three programs on my shortlist, but I’m still having trouble deciding which one.

Josh: Well, we’re here to help. What are your options?

Grace: Well, I’m deciding between an evening program at the community college, a full-time program at a private marketing school, or a weekend program at the university. According to their websites, all of them offer certificates upon completion, but they differ in cost and schedule.

Josh: Where to start?

Grace: Well, as you know . . . I’m not an ordinary student. I’ve been out of school for many years, I have a family, and I work part-time as a Marketing Assistant.

Luke: Well, those all sound like advantages to me; I mean, you already have tons of experience in the field, and you’ll be way more motivated as a student.

Grace: Yes, but I need a program that will fit my busy schedule and offer results.

Josh: From what I know, evening class are very popular with busy adult learners.

Grace: Right; but the more I think about it, the more I realize I’m not willing to give up my evening family time for anything.

Josh: Well, that’s one thing off the list. How concerned are you about tuition, Grace?

Grace: Good question. I am not particularly rich, but I think I would rather pay more for an excellent education than save a little money for little in return.

Luke: Well, what do you know about the private marketing school you mentioned? It’s a full-time program, right?

Grace: Yes. The curriculum looks great. It has all the latest trends: digital marketing, online advertising . . . The only thing is, it’s basically brand new—it only opened about six months ago.

Josh: Hmm. Yeah, you may want to wait and see how their first graduates are doing after they finish next year.

Luke: . . . or you could just take weekend classes at the university now.

Grace: Yeah, I wish I could sit in on a class. It’s a well-respected program that’s been offered for over a decade, it’s widely recognized in the industry . . . On the flip side, it’s kinda pricey.

Luke: But didn’t you say you were ready to invest in your future?

Grace: I did. I think I’m leaning towards the university. It works well with Saturday and Sunday being good for my family. And my husband says I can’t go wrong with that one. I think I’ve made my decision!

Josh: We are so proud of you Grace!

Luke: Good luck!


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear an announcer report on different viewpoints about public transit.

On the agenda for yesterday’s city council meeting was yet another discussion of the public transit dilemma. Over the past 15 years, this city has experienced a significant growth in population, a trend expected to continue well into the future. As a result of this growth, the public transit system, designed with a much smaller population in mind, has been operating beyond its capacity.

As an example, Thomas Findley commutes from Glenfield to downtown on a daily basis. While a year ago it took him thirty-five minutes to arrive at work by bus, the timeframe today is more in the realm of one hour and thirty-five minutes. For Findley, this is unacceptable. He contends that the delays stem from an increase in public transit users without a corresponding increase in the number of buses. The result: buses are often full to capacity and riders must wait long periods before one with space will stop for more passengers. As a solution, Findley has suggested doubling the number of buses in operation.

However, transit planner Rita Cummings argues that this would only be a temporary fix. She insists that increasing the number of buses would lead to significantly more traffic, something which, in the long run, could cause both greater delays as well as an increase in air pollution. Instead, Cummings has proposed the construction of a subway system. Since subways run underground, a large number of commuters can be moved without a corresponding increase in traffic. Consequently, Cummings feels that for growing cities, a subway system is almost always the most efficient and environmentally sound choice. She noted that subways in Toronto and Montreal have successfully fulfilled their roles for decades, each now carrying more than a million passengers every day.

In contrast, while city councillor Scott Dresden agrees a subway is a nice idea, he questions whether the need truly justifies the expense. According to Dresden, the cost of developing a subway system could easily run into the billions. Although the city’s population is growing, it is unlikely to ever reach the numbers to warrant such an expense. As an alternative, Dresden has suggested the purchase of modern, efficiently designed buses which have the capacity to carry double the number of passengers. This option, Dresden asserts, would lead to neither an increase in traffic nor a breaking of the bank. In the days to come, council will need to find a solution, be it subway, bigger buses, or maintaining the status quo. It’s election year, so it’s anyone’s guess what council will do to curry favour.